If He be Worthy [MCU/Thor]

Thor stood amidst the devastation wrought by his battle with the Destroyer, Mjölnir gripped firmly in his hand. The storm clouds above crackled with residual energy, a testament to the power he had unleashed. But as his call to Heimdall echoed across the desert, only silence answered.

"Something is amiss in Asgard," Thor declared, his voice grave as he turned to his companions. The Warriors Three and Sif exchanged concerned glances, their weapons still at the ready.

"Heimdall would never abandon his post," Sif said, her warrior's instinct sensing the wrongness of the situation. "Unless..."

"Unless he could not answer," Hogun finished grimly. "We should move to the Bifrost site we and Thor used to arrive on Midgard. It may ease Heimdall's task."

The sound of vehicles approaching drew their attention. Several black SUVs rolled to a stop nearby, and Agent Coulson emerged, looking remarkably unruffled despite the destruction. A man in tactical gear carrying a compound bow followed close behind, his eyes taking in every detail of the scene.

"Donald," Coulson called out with dry amusement. "I think it's time we had an honest conversation about who you really are." He gestured at the wreckage. "And maybe discuss the extensive property damage while we're at it."

The archer, Clint Barton, kept his bow at the ready, though not drawn. His stance was casual, but Thor recognized the alertness of a seasoned warrior. "Nice light show," Barton commented, nodding toward the crackling sky. "Though I've got to say, the whole medieval costume thing? That's a bold choice." His keen eyes never stopped analyzing the situation.

Thor smiled, despite the urgency. These mortals' composure in the face of the extraordinary reminded him of the warriors he had fought alongside for centuries.

"Your courage does you credit," Thor replied, his voice carrying the weight of ages. "Few would stand so calmly after what you witnessed today."

Coulson stepped forward, his expression neutral. "We've been monitoring you since you arrived. That hammer has caused quite a stir in our organization. Director Fury is particularly interested in what you might know about other... realms."

He studied Thor for a moment. "We're putting together a team. Special individuals who can help protect Earth when conventional forces aren't enough. We call it the Avengers Initiative."

Thor's eyes flickered to Barton, Hawkeye, as he knew the archer would come to be called. The visions had shown him this man's incredible skill, loyalty, and the trials he would face. Those hands would one day loose arrows alongside Thor in the Battle of New York, fighting against the very brother Thor now sought to save.

Thor laughed, genuine amusement mixing with respect for these mortals' vigilance. "I am Thor, son of Odin, protector of the Nine Realms. Your world, Midgard, as you know it, has always been under Asgard's watch, though we remained distant through the ages and have allowed you to settle your own disputes." His expression grew serious. "But times are changing. Great powers stir across the cosmos, and your realm may soon need more direct aid."

"Is that a threat?" Barton asked, his tone more curious than hostile.

"A warning," Thor corrected, "and an offer of alliance. I have safeguarded these realms for centuries and will continue to do so. Your initiative to gather defenders for Earth is wise. The universe is vaster and more perilous than you know."

Coulson considered Thor carefully. "The Avengers Initiative is an important topic. If you truly are who you claim, perhaps we should continue this discussion somewhere more secure."

"I fear that will have to wait," Thor replied, glancing skyward as his expression darkened. "Asgard calls, and my brother's actions threaten not just my realm, but all realms." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "But know this—should Midgard face a threat it cannot withstand, I shall answer your call. You have my word as Prince of Asgard."

"Your word as a prince?" Barton smirked slightly. "No offense, but we usually prefer more concrete agreements."

Thor's smile returned, tinged with old wisdom. "Then you have my word as one warrior to another."

Coulson's expression remained neutral, but there was a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. "We'll hold you to that, Thor. The Avengers could use someone with your power on the team. Dr. Banner, one of our potential recruits, has his own unique abilities. But he's still learning control. Your strength and experience could be invaluable."

Thor nodded, filing away that information. In his visions, he had seen the incredible strength and equally incredible destruction the mild-mannered scientist was capable of. Helping Banner find balance could prevent much suffering.

"When the time comes, I will be there," Thor promised. Then, with a hint of melancholy, he added, "But for now, my path lies elsewhere."

His thoughts turned briefly to Jane, her brilliant mind, her unquenchable curiosity, her unwavering courage in the face of the impossible. In another life, perhaps they could have explored the wonders of the universe together, mortal and immortal hand in hand.

But the visions had shown him the price of that path. Jane's mortality was a fleeting gift, one he couldn't bear to see consumed by the cosmic dangers that followed him. She deserved a life of discovery and wonder, not one overshadowed by constant peril. Letting her go, as much as it pained him, was the only way to truly protect her.

"Speaking of your path," Coulson said, breaking Thor from his reverie, "what exactly is that?" He gestured at the fallen Destroyer. "And what capabilities are we looking at?"

Thor sighed, the weight of his brother's actions heavy on his heart. "An Asgardian weapon, forged by my father to guard our vault. Its power, as you witnessed, is formidable. But it was never meant to be turned against the realms it was created to protect." Sadness tinged his voice as he added, "My brother's pain has led him down a treacherous path."

"Your brother?" Barton asked, his tactical mind analyzing the implications. "So we're potentially looking at more of these things?"

"The situation is... complex," Thor replied diplomatically. "But I give you my word, I shall endeavor to prevent further harm to your realm by our hands."

A familiar ripple suddenly passed through the air—a subtle shift in pressure that Thor recognized all too well. His grip tightened on Mjölnir as he turned to his companions.

"Heimdall breaks free of his bonds," he declared. "We must move with haste." To the SHIELD agents, he added, "Son of Coul, you defend your realm with admirable dedication. Should you ever need to contact me, simply look to the skies and speak my name. Heimdall's gaze spans all, and he will ensure your message reaches me."

"That's not exactly standard comms protocol," Coulson noted dryly.

Thor laughed again, the sound booming. "These are not standard times, my friend. Your world stands on the brink of a new age, one where the realms are no longer separate, where ancient powers and modern warriors must learn to coexist." His expression sobered. "Trust your instincts. They will serve you well."

With that, Thor and his companions raced across the desert at blinding speed, heading for the Bifrost site. The storm clouds that had gathered during his battle with the Destroyer trailed them, churning with renewed purpose.

Coulson and Barton watched in stunned silence as the Asgardians moved with inhuman swiftness, their forms disappearing as they crossed vast distances in mere seconds. The desert landscape seemed to warp around them.

"Did you see that?" Barton asked, his usual composure cracking slightly. "They're moving faster than any vehicle we have here."

Coulson nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Their baseline abilities are far beyond anything we've encountered before." He turned to Barton. "We need to report this to Fury immediately. If there are more beings out there with powers like this..."

He didn't finish the thought, but the implication hung heavy in the air. The Avengers Initiative had just taken on a whole new level of importance. Earth would need defenders capable of facing threats that defied conventional understanding.

"Whatever awaits us in Asgard," Thor declared to his comrades, "remember that Loki is still my brother, and your prince. His actions stem from pain and confusion, not malice. We must reach him before he does something that cannot be undone."

"And if we cannot reach him in time?" Hogun asked pragmatically.

Thor's jaw set as he gripped Mjölnir tighter, the first signs of the Bifrost manifesting above. "We will. We must. I have glimpsed futures too terrible to fathom, futures where Asgard falls, where half of all life in the universe is erased in a single snap." Fierce determination filled his voice. "I will not permit those futures to pass. Not while I draw breath."

The Bifrost's rainbow light descended, shifting reality as the bridge between worlds opened. Thor caught one final glimpse of Midgard below, the realm he had come to appreciate anew during his exile. He saw the distant SHIELD vehicles observing their departure.

In the shimmering void of the Bifrost, Thor's thoughts raced as quickly as the light carrying him home. The mortals he left behind Coulson, Barton, Jane represented threads of a larger tapestry.

The SHIELD agents' words echoed in his mind. The Avengers Initiative. In his visions, that team had achieved wonders, facing threats no single hero could withstand. But those same visions had shown him how easily that group could fracture when trust eroded and agendas clashed.

Could he change that path? Guide them toward a unity that would endure the trials to come? The weight of his knowledge pressed upon him, futures overlapping like the branches of Yggdrasil itself. He saw battles won and lost, sacrifices made, half the universe erased and then restored at a terrible cost. The temptation to warn them, to share the burden of his foresight, tugged at him.

But no. Tampering with the delicate threads of destiny risked unraveling it all. He would have to tread carefully, nudging events toward a better path where he could, but accepting that some trials—some losses—might be inevitable. The knowledge sat heavily on his heart.

As the Bifrost carried them through the cosmos, Thor's grip tightened on Mjölnir. His brother's actions had gone too far not just threatening Asgard, but planning the complete annihilation of Jotunheim. Thor understood with bitter clarity, what drove his brother to such extremes. Loki sought to prove himself Asgard's savior by destroying their ancient enemies, the Frost Giants, as if drowning his own heritage in blood would somehow make him more worthy of the throne.

And Thor would stand in his way.